Youth Soccer Receives a Kick in Cortez

The Tri-City Soccer Association has been a staple of the Cortez community for years. The youth soccer league has created opportunities for generations of young players, while its volunteer coaches have fostered healthy habits and a love of soccer. Despite its legacy, the league all but went away during the coronavirus pandemic. The formerly vibrant association, which was supporting more than 300 players, went dormant for two years, losing all of its organizers in the process. A new group of volunteers has since rekindled the league, but they have been crushed by the overwhelming interest from families and players. The association has struggled post-pandemic to find coaches and manage scheduling, limiting the number of kids who can participate. Amid the interest and need, Tri-City’s board and volunteers came up with the idea to have a dedicated coordinator who could organize the league and grow soccer in Cortez. LOR’s funding went toward supporting Tri-City’s coordinator position in 2024, helping the league expand from 350 kids to more than 600.

This project was fiscally sponsored by Onward! A Legacy Foundation.